WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Jets continue their five game homestand Saturday at Canada Life Centre when they host the Ottawa Senators. The Jets are looking to end their five game (0-4-1) winless streak after losing 4-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night.
The Sens may be out of the playoff picture in the east but that has not slowed them down as of late, Ottawa have won four straight contests including the 2-0 win over Chicago on Thursday.
"They're a fast team and Jacques (Martin) got some playing really well and they've, they've won four in a row," said Rick Bowness.
"And they come out of the gate hard every night. They're a good team. And we all know they're a good team. And for whatever reason, things went off the rails for them earlier in the year. But they're certainly playing their best hockey right now."
The Jets held an optional skate this morning and only the scratches took part. Connor Hellebuyck will get his fifth consecutive start and will play in his 500th career game.
"So listen, that’s a big honor. A guy like Bucky and I've been fortunate. You know, I had Sean Burke, (Roberto) Luongo and Vassy (Andrei Vasilevskiy) and Ben Bishop and Cory Schneider," said Rick Bowness.
"Like one thing with all those guys, they want to play. They want the ball in the most important games, they’re true pros. They all work incredibly hard. They're great competitors. They all have a lot of things in common and Bucky ranks right up there with them."
Bowness confirmed that Gabe Vilardi will play meaning David Gustafsson comes out. Nate Schmidt will replace Dylan Samberg on the blueline and pair with Logan Stanley.
"Dylan Samberg had a really strong game. But Nate’s going back in, hopefully he’ll give that second unit on the power play a little boost if he gets out there. So clearly, that's been the thing that has held us back the most this year. If our specialty teams were just even average we'd be well over 100 points at this point. There's no question. So Nate will go back in tonight. He won't be on every second unit powerplay but he gives us an option."
Winnipeg comes into Saturday with the 22nd ranked power play (17.9%) and the 24th ranked penalty kill (76.6%). The power play has come under fire during this five game slide the Jets are on (0-for-17) but did a little bit better in the loss to the Golden Knights on Thursday. Vilardi will no doubt give the power play a boost in his return. At practice on Friday, Vilardi was on the top unit with Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Sean Monahan.
"I've talked about it a bunch. It's just about taking what the other team gives you and making quick reads. I've been at that net front position for a while now so I've kind of gotten used to it," said Vilardi on Friday.
"Just like Mark (Scheifele) can make some good reads on the half wall that maybe I wouldn't see, maybe I make those different reads at the net front because I spend more time there."
One thing that Bowness isn't worried about with the power play is their offensive zone entries.
“At times, sometimes it wasn’t there, but the penalty killers do a good job too. But for the most part, the entries have not been the problem, whatsoever. It’s the next play that has been killing us," said Bowness.
"That comes when you know you’re going to get setup and you’re going to create some chances, that confidence just goes way up and you are able to make those plays after you get in. Getting in, sometimes it’s not the issue, but sometimes the next play. And that should be rectified as well.”
The Jets have won the past four games against the Senators and are 16-6-1 during the past 23 games against Ottawa. The road team has
won five of the past six meetings between Winnipeg and Ottawa.
